Patrols stay away from trigger happy town

DETERMINED to end their week-long confrontation with the gunmen of al-Majar al-Kabir, which has already cost six British soldiers’ lives, army commanders yesterday launched a peace offensive.

After a frantic day of secret negotiations, various gestures of conciliation and an airdrop of leaflets over this trigger-happy town, it was debatable whether they had succeeded.

There were plenty of young men still roaming the area last night with automatic rifles slung over their shoulders, promising more killing unless the British leave. It is hard to see who can disarm them peacefully.

Aware of the dangers that lay in wait for them in this bad-tempered frontier town, British patrols stayed away from al-Majar for another day though commanders did hold a series of meetings with dignitaries and…